Hat form



April 9, 1935. ELLE 1,997,315() y' HAT FORM Filed May 13, 1952 wwwi'lll'lul-A Y f9- .Zzc/er? for wie ca 7656,

tour of the' form and cross members ld fitting down between the membersI4v so as to hold the cap in position. This member I9 is preferablyformed `of relatively light sheet metal.

I may construct .the device of my invention without employing specicmeans for` determining the size thereof'butdepending solelyonmeasuring'theV form to determine the size thereof.. The sizes ofwomens hats arev usually figured in inches and fractions'thereof. Iprovide means for indicating the hatsizedirectly so that at all timesthat the form is in use, the size to which .it is adjusted can bedetermined Vby merely glancing at the indicator.` Referring now toFigs.v 5, 6, and '7, IV provide a groove 2| in the plate I'l with anaperture-22 coinciding with the groove and run; ning entirelythroughitheplate;` A slide 23 supported in the groove is'adjustable therealong andis provided with indicating characters 24y Visible s `through theaperture 22 to show the size to which 'n the form is adjusted.y For'movingthe slide, I

provide a pair of `members`23 and 21,3 hinged to-V Y gether at the apex`28, with one member hinged to across-:piece 29 'carried by the plate andthe other member hinged to the slide-23 at 3|. The two members 26 and 2TYare normally pulled toward each other by-a' resilient member 32, in thepresent caseshown as a semi-soft rubber'band. A second Vcross piece 33limits-the movement imparted to the members bythe resilient member 32.The

` two cross-pieces-ZS 'and 33 in the embodiment shown alsoifunction toVhold 4the slide 23 in the groove, but Vother provisions foraccomplishing the same results can, Vof course, be employed.

Since the'verticalV position of the expanding member I 6 determines thedegree of expansion of Vthe frame, zI employ'the position of this'member e Accordingly, I provide means in the form `of a cam 34 for enfor'determining the `'head size.`

gaging the apex 28 of the triangle formed by the two members 26 and 21.-Since` the movement iin-v g parted tothe slide 23v is not directlyproportional Y to the vertical movement imparted to the apex of thetwomembers, provisions for compensating for this difference must be made;Iaccomplish this as indicated in Fig. 6 by providing a curve of the cam34 calculated to cause the slide 23 to move a distance directlyproportional to the vertical distance moved'by the cam. I might, ofcourse, secure the same result by graduatingthe Vnumerals 24 inaccordancerwith the movement imparted to the slide, but I have foundthat it is more desirable jto have a uniform scale on the slide. l Fig.l() shows a modification in which the adjustable members vIIcIare'formed with interlocking edges IIlIb. This overlapping occurs wherelthe two members meetwjust under the rubber form. When these Ymembers.-'meet in a straight line and are expanded as indicated in Fig. 4, thereis a slot formed between them which .may reach` considerable proportionswhen the form is gradually expanded. Under these conditions,therinterlocking portions H41) serve sube.

the outer form, I provide meansjfor holding thel inner frame togetherwl'ien'it is not supported by the rubber outer form. To this end, ,Iprovide an annular groove 35 around the expansible members I4 (Fig. 8)in which groove arelaing description. AWhen it is'used in the ordinaryhat shop for manufacturing purposes, the expansion device may or may notbe. employed, de-

pending upon the size of the shop, the number of forms normally used andother circumstances. It will be apparent that a'solid frame may be usedand a rubber form pulled over the frame to give the proper head size.

which it can be stripped 01T the frame and'another form appliedthereover.V In a relatively smaller: shop, it may be desirable touse theeX- panding feature on all or someof .the forms.

`When the expanding featurel is used, it is adjusted to the proper;headsize andmay'be used in exactly the; same way that it would be usedif the frame were non-adjustable. understood, however, thatV independentof the size of .the'shop, it may be desired to use the expending'feature even Vthough it will not be utilized partici the time. 1

The expanding feature is also of advantage when it isnecessary tostretch the hat. It may have a slightly different contour 'dependingupon the shapeof the hat andmay, of course, also be shaped to rita manshat and maybe used for shaping, blocking, stretching and the. like.

The rubber form would then be used until it was worn out, after It.-will be l I have'referred to the'outer form or shell as Y will readilyreceive a pinbut which will/havev 'an outer surface of such a degree of`smoothness and density that a needle coming in contact with it -at anacute angle,.as. ingsewing, will not readily penetrate it.VVariousrubberelike gums, such as .gutta-percha, balata, and similar'sub.-

stances,l can be used to give somewhat the same results.. .I may,however, employ more than one materiaL for example, I may provideadouble layer of sponge rubber, as shown, whileY the. outer layer maycomprise 'a relativelyvery thin coating'of gutta-percha, balata, oramixture of gutta-percha and balata, using diluents,Vv plasticizingagents and other accessories to obtain the proper characteristics ofthese materials Vas is well known in the art.4

.I have not referred to material vemployed in the frame, but it will beobvious that any suitable material, preferably light 'in weight, may be4used. Material should be employed, however.: which will permitrelatively easy sliding'movement between the parts. Very light metal.such as aluminum andmagnesium alloysA may be used,

wood or several different types of ymolding com` Y pounds.

In Fig. 11, I show the outer rubber form attached to an inner frame 36which is not adjust-7 able and which may be of any suitable material as,for example, a molding compound, light weightmetal, wood,' or,the like.,lThis form shows .a socket;

j neer-,33o

31 which `is adapted to 'fit over any-suitablesup-- port for holding-theforrnduring-y the time that a hatis' beingmade thereon'f The numerall'is employed as in the main iigures'to indicateA the outerlaminated-structure. f1 i e I have described myinventionjin"detail'topen mit thosefskilled Vin `the art to practice'thesame,

but it is obvious `that notirestrict'ed tortheV ited by the scope ofthe' appended' claims. f.

What I claim as new and desire to protectl by Letters Patent of theUnitedSta'tes'is: i! i3- 1. A hat formfhaving anouter portionfcompr'particular forms shown, thefin'vention being lim'- ing a layerof`spongef'rubber and fan'outer.` sirinlike layer-of relatively denserrubberywhereby pins Vare readily* inserted therein buta'fj surface. isprovided overiwhicha needle `may "be passedr as in sewing. -g l. l i 1`2. A hat formhaving anfouterportion com?V prising a layer ofspongerubberga superposedlrelatively thinner layer'of sponge.rubberhavinga density greater Vthan said iirstzlayer, andan outerskin-like layerofstill denserrubber."

i 3. A hatformhaving ano'uterportio f ormed of"rubberlikefinoldablefmaterial, said rbberlike Y moldable `materialfh'avingl afdensity to; permit/aA pin readilyto beinserted-wherein,:andthaving'a relatively. smooth'skin-like denseAexterior` surface whereby vwhen a..needle,zcomes;in contact there..

withv at a relativelyacute angle'the `needle will not `penetratesaidsurface.'v i

4. A hat form fas denedlin claim. wherein` said outer .portionfcomprisesa layerl of sponge-` like material. `superpo'sed byarskinlike layer` of`relatively dense material. .Y ,f i f l 5. A hat form'comprising anouter; shellof elastic moldable material, said'shelllhaving an ginnerlayer of sponge rubber anda relativelyrthin! im: perforate outside layerfof .dense ielasticxmaterial bonded to the Vsponge rubber, an innerframe for supporting said outer shell, and means for expanding the innerframe to change the size of the shell. v l.

6. A hat form comprising anouter shell of elastic moldable materialconforming in size and shape generally to the crown of a hat and formedof spo-nge rubber covered with an outer skinlike layer of dense elasticrubber and an inner expansible frame comprising a plurality ofadjustable members, an expanding member disposed within the adjustablemembers, contacting surfaces being provided between the adjustablemembers and the expanding member shaped to have a wedge action 'andmeans for moving said expanding member to change the radial position ofthe adjustable members through said wedge action. e

7. A hat form comprising an elastic shell formed of moldable material,said shell having in general the size and shape of a hat crown,a framecomprising a plurality of adjustablemernbers in contact with the shell,a cone-like eX- panding member of generally oval cross section, a coverplate, and a screw journaled in the cover plate and threadedinto thecone member for` drawing the clone-member toward the cover plate toexpand the adjustable members.

crown, said-sheliihavinga veryfthin outerl layer of f relatively- 1dense moldabl'e' material, an inner layer j o1 slightly less densej-moldable material, and `a `second innermost layer `formed of still:less j dense moldable` material, said-layers :bonded to` j.;

gether tofform a single-piece shell, and aninner `framefsupporting'saidshell 'i 1011A hat Vforni comprising` an outer' shellI oi ,elasticrnaterial Vhaving l substantially the size and shape "ofi -a'`hatfcrown, andl a supporting ex-V pansib'leframe, said framecomprisingfa 'plu'- lof rality of outerad-justable vmembera-"and an innerexpanding -rnember-oilgenerallyoval crosssection, thev adjustablemembers and. expanding members having co-operating surfaces f wherebythe I-.expanding member when moved axially has Y afwedgelike actionA toexpand said adjustable..

e members radially,` and `means for fimpartingax'` ial movement to saidexpandingmember. i l `1l11`.A- hat form comprising 'ashell `of .elasticmaterial `lhaving. substantiallythe size rand shape l, of a hat crown,an innersupporting framecom-` prising a plurality of radially disposedadjustable members engaging theshellandfliaving slanting inner surfaces,an inverted cone-like expandingI memberof `generally oval crossAvsection with outer slanting `surfaces engaging` the .slantingAsurfaces of theladju'stable Ymembers,.avcover plate closing thev shelland ron:.which the, adjustable. members rest; a `screw `journalledintheA coverfplate` and threaded into the expanding member, andY meansfor-tturningthe screw to .draw the expanding Vmembery `axially `anddownwardly `toward the ibersiradially;4

V12. .The vcombinationl defined in"` elaimllll, in# cluding aqcrown;member.. slidably supported above thea'djustable members` to maintain asupport: forV theV shell V.at :the top thereoflwhen theadjustable..*members` are expanded, `said coverplate toexpandtheadjustable frame memcrown member being lifted `up slightly when the Iadjustable members expand.

13. The combination defined in claim 11, in-

. cluding a slide` supported on the inside of the cover plate and havinga scale readablethrough fan aperture in said cover plate, andarconnection between said slide and expanding member for transferringvertical movement of the` adjustable member into sliding movement of theslide whereby a head size to which the form is adjusted may be readdirectly from the scale on Said slide.

14. A hat form comprising an elastic shell formed of rubberlikematerial, said shell having in general the size and shape of a hatcrown, a frame comprising a plurality of .adjustable members in contactwith the shell, al conelike expanding member, a cover plate on which theY adjustable members slidably engage, means for drawing the cone membertoward the cover plate to expand the adjustable members, and meanscarried by the cover plate and operable by the movement `of the conemember to indicate the degree of expansion of saidadjustablemembers.`

l5. A hat form comprising an elastic shell formed of rubberlikematerial,` saidshell having in general the size and shape of a hatcrown, a frame comprising a plurality of adjustable members in Contactwith the shell, a conelike expanding member, a cover plate, means fordrawing the cone member toward the cover plate to `expand the adjustablemembers, and means operable by4 the movement of the cone member toindicate the degree of expansion of said expansible members, `said meansincluding a movable member supported on the .plate provided indiciavisible through an aperture saidplate, and means operated by themovement of the ,cone member for moving said movable member,

16, Abat form comprising an elastie .shell formed ofrubberlike material,said shell having. l

in general the size and shape 'of a hat crown, a

ramecomprising a plurality of adjustable miembers in contact withtheshelLa conelike expand? ing member, a cover plate, means for drawing thecone member toward the cover plate to expand the adjustablemembers,means operable by the movement of thecone-member,toindioa-te the4 degree.ofexpansion oi` .said adjustable members, said means comprising a slidesupported .on the interior .of the plate and having indicia visible`through an aperture in the plate. a pair of levers.

pivotedltogether to form a hinge, the end of one leverpivoted -on theplate and the end of vother Vlever pivoted on` said slide, and means onthe Vcone member forengaging the hinge between ing member, a vcoverplate, means for drawing 'the cone member toward the cover plate toexpand the adjustable members, means operable by the movement ofthe conemember to indicate the .degree of. expansion of said adjustable members,said means comprising aslide supporti ed on the interior of the plateand-having indicia visible through an aperture in thev plate, a pair oflevers `pivotedtogether to form ahinge, the end of one lever pivoted onthe plate and the end .of the other lever pivoted on said slide, and a.cam carried by the cone member forengaging the hinge between theYlevers whereby. movement of the cone is effective to move ,saidslide'said .cam

movement directly proportionalto vthe movementV 0f the Acone member.

.1.8. A hat vfor-m comprising an-outer shell of rubber-dike material,having .in `general the Size and shape ofa eomplete hat crown, aSupporting plural part frame lWitlointhe shell including .a plurality.of adjustablemembers in Contactl with the shell .and having 'innerSurfaces .slantlng downwardly and inwardly, and an inverted Conelike:expanding lmember of generally oval cross. section ensagngsaid. innersurfaces'v to. expand said members proportionally whereby `the shape .ofthe shelll will remain substantiallythe same at all size adjustmentsrandmeans for drawing said expanding member downwardly.- y

19. A hat form comprising a closed outershell of rubberlike-material,having in general the. Size and shape of a'oomplete. hat crown,asupporting plural part frame. .withinvthe shell including aplural-ityof adjustable membersin contact with the shell g and havingVinner surfaces -slanting downwardly and inwardly over a portionthereof, an--inverted conci-:like expanding memberV or generally ovalorosssectionengaging said slant.- Y

ing surfaces to expand-said members proportionally to the shape of thehat-whereby the shape of the shell Will remain substantially the same atall size adjustments, guide means between the adjustable members andexpanding member .to maintain. the same relative position between them,a cover plate over the base of the shell to close the'same', and a'screwjournalled in the coverrplate' and threaded into the expanding memberto'drawsaid expanding member downwardly to move said adjustable membersoutwardly.

. vFRIEDA ELLE.

